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Laser Dentistry

What is Waterlase technology?
If a visit to the dentist is bound up in your mind with the dreaded image of a shot, you are certainly not alone. For many people, in fact, that intimidating needle is the most daunting part of a dental appointment.

Thanks to the state-of-the-art procedures practiced at Twin Cities Dental Center, however, that shot can be a thing of the past in many instances. The Waterlase HydroKinetic YSGG dental laser, in combination with an air/water spray, can eliminate the need for anesthesia and make dentistry truly painless.

Waterlase® YSGG technology uses a patented and unique combination of laser energy and water to gently and precisely remove dental decay with no shot, no drill and no pain in most cases.

Is the laser safe?

In the hands of your trained dentist, the Waterlase® is as safe as other medical devices. With its 2 mm active range from the tip, the laser provides pinpoint accuracy, reducing the chance of causing damage to healthy tissues. The primary safety measure necessary during laser treatment is proper protective glasses.

Besides eliminating the need for a needle, the Waterlase® also has long-term benefits for your dentistry itself. While a traditional high-speed dental drill may cause what is known as a “sear layer” — a layer of dead organic material — the Waterlase® leaves no sear layer. The result is a better surface for bonding that allows your filling to last longer.

What can the Laser can be used for?

• Decay Removal
• Cavity Preparation
• Complete Root Canal procedures
• Bone procedures
• Reshaping “gummy” smiles
• General soft tissue procedures
• General dentistry for enamel and dentin
• Avoiding being “numbed”
• Avoiding the shot and pain

What are the benefits of Waterlase® Laser?
Virtually painless dentistry
Most of the pain associated with the dental drill is caused by heat and vibration. Waterlase® technology, however, does not cause heat or vibration to cut the tooth, which means that most dental procedures can be performed with no pain, virtually eliminating the need for anesthesia in most cases.

Superior technology
The Waterlase® removes decay precisely and allows you to keep a healthy tooth structure and have healthier teeth longer. In addition, it avoids many common problems of the high-speed drill, including cracks in the teeth from the vibration and rapid turning of the drill burrs that can weaken your teeth and create future problems. The Waterlase® also decontaminates as it cuts, reducing the chance for bacterial contamination.

Longer-lasting fillings
The Waterlase® prepares your teeth in a way that maximizes the bonding of tooth colored fillings, allowing them to last longer.

Versatility and convenience
The Waterlase® is also effective for numerous soft tissue (gum) procedures with little or no bleeding, giving the dentist a new high-tech tool for many procedures that previously required a referral to a specialist. Now you can have them performed during your scheduled appointment.

Gum disease treatment
Successful treatment of periodontal disease requires the removal of bacterial plaque and calculus and diseased tissue. The dental laser can selectively remove the diseased lining of the periodontal pocket and destroy the microbes associated with periodontal disease. Anesthesia is usually not required.

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